EU ocean mission
EU Mission: Restore Our Ocean and Waters
Healthy marine and freshwater systems, including oceans, rivers, and lakes are essential to life and
Europe is taking bold steps to protect them.
The EU Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters” is one of five EU Missions launched
under Horizon Europe, designed to address major societal challenges by 2030 through an ambitious,
systemic, and whole-of-society approach. It aims to clean, heal, and protect our ocean and waters by
2030 as part of Europe’s broader effort to build a greener, healthier future for everyone .
Why it matters
Oceans and waters sustain complex ecosystems, support countless species, and regulate the
planet’s climate. Yet pollution, habitat loss, and rising temperatures are putting them under
serious threat.
The Mission’s goal is straightforward: work together to restore clean, healthy, and thriving
water
systems
across Europe.
The Mission’s three core objectives
To achieve this goal, the EU Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters” focuses on:
- Protecting and restoring marine and freshwater ecosystems and
biodiversity
Restoring nature and biodiversity in rivers, lakes, and seas through science, policy, and local action. - Preventing and eliminating pollution of our ocean, seas, and
waters
Reducing plastic and chemical pollution across all types of water bodies. - Making the blue economy carbon-neutral and circular
Supporting innovation, clean technologies, and sustainable industries that depend on healthy waters.
To support these core objectives, the EU Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters” also puts in place two cross-cutting enablers:
- Digital Ocean and Water Knowledge System: integrated monitoring, data, and forecasting tools to strengthen evidence-based understanding and decision-making for marine and freshwater systems.
- Public mobilisation and engagement: engagement of citizens and stakeholders across Europe to co-design, participate in and scale up actions that contribute to the Mission’s objectives.
How it works
The Mission brings together diverse actors, such as scientists, public authorities, communities, and businesses, to develop and scale up solutions that protect and restore our waters. It supports cooperation across Europe by focusing on four major sea and river basins:
- Atlantic-Arctic
- Mediterranean Sea
- Baltic–North Sea
- Danube–Black Sea
These areas are called lighthouses, and they serve as sites to pilot, demonstrate, develop, and deploy Mission activities across EU waters.
The CO-WATERS project works under this Mission by working with cities, regions, islands and ports to translate these objectives into local action. Through tailored support, peer-learning, advisory services, and capacity-building activities, CO-WATERS empowers local actors to restore water systems, reduce pollution, and implement sustainable blue economy practices, helping Europe achieve the Mission’s 2030 targets.
Want to learn more about the Mission?
- Visit the EU Mission Portal
Explore the one-stop-shop for Mission stakeholders - Join the Mission Charter
Pledge your support and become part of the Mission community
